NY's top court: NYC gang member not a terrorist

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York's highest court says street gangsters that commit assaults and murders are not terrorists under the statute enacted after hijackers crashed jets into the World Trade Center on 9/11.

The Court of Appeals says there's no indication New York lawmakers enacted the measure to elevate gang-on-gang street violence to the status of terrorism, which carries tougher penalties.

Ruling unanimously Tuesday, the court ordered a new trial for Edgar Morales, a member of the St. James Boys gang. He was convicted of fatally shooting a 10-year-old bystander and paralyzing a rival gang member at a christening party.